Enneagram & the Gospel: Overcoming Our Limiting Beliefs ft. Beth McCord
Beth McCord is a best-selling author, speaker, and teacher, as well as founder and coach of Your Enneagram Coach, an organization whose mission is to help their clients to see themselves with astonishing clarity with the Enneagram through the lens of the Gospel, so they can break free from self-condemnation, fear, and shame by knowing and experiencing the unconditional love, forgiveness, and freedom in Christ.
Love. This.
The seeds for YEC that would eventually bloom into a coaching business that now spans more than 20 countries were laid early in Beth and her husband’s marriage. In a season of struggle, the two came upon the Enneagram, began learning more about it, and were blown away by “a clarity that wasn’t there before that helped our relationship immensely.”
From there, they dove deep. But the more they learned, the more they realized very little, if any, of the material on the Enneagram was framed through a biblical lens. They thought, “Here’s something that really looks like truth, but how they’re seeing it isn’t how [believers] would see it. How can we put this in a theologically accurate perspective?”
Beth began to work with her husband who is a pastor to simplify the complex truths and systems of the Enneagram and teach them from a gospel-centered perspective. And the rest is history. Twenty years later, they remain pioneers and champions of the Enneagram in Christian spaces.
“The point isn’t to just focus in on yourself,” Beth tells us. “The point is to recognize who you are and how God created you to be, so you can know your true identity in him and live that out.” The goal is to understand the gifts and attributes God gives each of us and use them for his glory and to pursue healthier relationships with others.
“THE ENNEAGRAM IS A TOOL, NOT THE ULTIMATE MEANS OF TRANSFORMATION. JESUS IS THE ONLY TRUE MEANS OF TRANSFORMATION.”
We also dive into the limiting beliefs or negative self-talk that each type struggles with. What is the false message we’re telling ourselves, and how does Christ satisfy each of the core-longings behind those false messages?
Get a quick preview here:
1. Reformer’s false message: It’s not okay to make mistakes.
2. Supporter/Helper’s false message: It’s not okay to meet your own needs and feelings.
3. Achiever’s false message: I have to be successful to be admired.
4. Individualist’s false message: I am too much and not enough.
5. Investigator’s false message: My needs are a problem.
6. Faithful Guardian’s false message: I can’t trust myself.
7. Enthusiast/Optimist’s false message: I can’t depend on anyone for anything.
8. Passionate/Protector’s false message: I can’t trust anyone.
9. Peaceful Accommodator’s false message: I can’t cause discord or conflict.
For more, listen to She’s in the City podcast episode with Beth.
Follow Beth @yourenneagramcoach & https://www.yourenneagramcoach.com/
For more resources:
Explore each type’s core motivation.
More on Enneagram & Gospel:
Your Enneagram Coach Podcast, episodes 64, 65, 66